What Is Regression Testing Software?

What Is Regression Testing Software? by Terry Edwards

Regression testing software is a software series that is designed to help isolate issues that have arisen with software on the hard drive that was working fine, yet suddenly developed a problem. Essentially, the software works its magic by taking a look at diagnostics and backups from previous periods when the problem was not present, then compares the data to that of a current diagnostic. This simple process can often supply valuable clues about what has changed and created the operational issue.

The beauty of regression testing software is that it can identify problems with a number of different origins. For example, the software may be able to pick up on a local reason for the problem, such as some new virus or bug being introduced to the hard drive and becoming embedded in one or more of the files used to drive a program. In other cases, the regression software may uncover some factor that activated a bug in the software scripting that remained dormant until something caused it to activate.

Even if the origin of the issue is not local, there is a chance that testing software can still help isolate the problem. To illustrate, if one program interfaces and writes to a different database, and in the process creates some sort of a change, that change may in effect break some aspect of the receiving database. Until the change is corrected, the performance of the receiving database will be erratic at best.

Generally, regression testing software can isolate a problem, but does not have the ability to automatically fix the issue. However, knowing what is causing the issue makes it possible to select the right tools that can be used to correct the situation, and restore your hard drive and all the loaded software to the same level of efficiency that was enjoyed before the problem began.